John Cassavetes: The Collection DVD Box
What:
John Cassavetes: The Collection DVD Box Set
When:
Out now
Where:
Shock DVDs 'Distinction Series'
Watch the opening of Shadows:
Here
Or, just for fun, watch Cassavetes punch Ronald Reagan:
Here
Win:
We have one box set to give away. Just email win@threethousand.com.au with the subject line ‘John's never seen an exploding helicopter'
Le Tigre posed the question in their catchy call-and-response 'What's Yr Take On Cassavetes?', "Misogynist? Genius? Alcoholic? Messiah?"
Sink into this newly remastered set of Cassavetes' films and you can immediately see how they're the dirty, short-black-coffee parallels to the French New Wave. Ever in love with his actors, Cassavetes encouraged them to improvise, chattering atop one another, to produce his particular brand of revolutionary realism.
He explained it like this: "I've never seen an exploding helicopter. I've never seen anybody go and blow somebody's head off. So why should I make films about them?"
Included here are Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night, two differing versions of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and his first film, 1959's Shadows. The latter is a taut racial drama, played out through gorgeous, stark street scenes; unflattering close-up sneers on the men; the impossibly large, impossibly dark eyes of Lelia Goldoni; all underscored with flurries of jazz and cigarette smoke.
Some won't be able to feel the magic of Cassavetes' abrasive, verité charms but, like Benny says in Shadows, "It's not a question of understanding it. If you feel it, you feel it, stupid."
Format: DVD
Mood: Nostalgic
Keywords: Cassavetes, Film
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